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| British officials planning talks with Syrian armed groups | British officials planning talks with Syrian armed groups |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Downing Street says Britain is to begin talks with armed Syrian rebels in a bid to unite the opposition to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. | Downing Street says Britain is to begin talks with armed Syrian rebels in a bid to unite the opposition to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. |
| The announcement came as David Cameron arrived in Jordan on the latest stage of his visit to the Middle East. | The announcement came as David Cameron arrived in Jordan on the latest stage of his visit to the Middle East. |
| Mr Cameron will discuss the fighting in Syria with the King of Jordan and meet refugees from the conflict. | Mr Cameron will discuss the fighting in Syria with the King of Jordan and meet refugees from the conflict. |
| Downing Street said the talks between UK officials and Syrian rebels would take place in Jordan and Turkey. | Downing Street said the talks between UK officials and Syrian rebels would take place in Jordan and Turkey. |
| A spokesman said Britain would not be arming the Syrian rebels, or giving them access to military advisers. | A spokesman said Britain would not be arming the Syrian rebels, or giving them access to military advisers. |
| The UK is also to increase its humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees to more than £50m, making it the second largest donor after the United States. | The UK is also to increase its humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees to more than £50m, making it the second largest donor after the United States. |
| Safe passage | Safe passage |
| The conflict has been high on the agenda in Mr Cameron's talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates during his three-day trip to the Gulf. | The conflict has been high on the agenda in Mr Cameron's talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates during his three-day trip to the Gulf. |
| He said on Tuesday that he was prepared to see President Assad allowed safe passage out of Syria if that would help ensure a peaceful power shift. | He said on Tuesday that he was prepared to see President Assad allowed safe passage out of Syria if that would help ensure a peaceful power shift. |
| But Mr Cameron insisted that he would "favour him facing the full force of international law and justice for what he's done." | But Mr Cameron insisted that he would "favour him facing the full force of international law and justice for what he's done." |
| Number 10 said the talks with Syrian rebels would help the UK "better understand the actual situation and the relationship between political and armed opposition groups." | Number 10 said the talks with Syrian rebels would help the UK "better understand the actual situation and the relationship between political and armed opposition groups." |
| A spokesman said: "The government will make absolutely clear to these groups that they must respect human rights and humanitarian law standards. | A spokesman said: "The government will make absolutely clear to these groups that they must respect human rights and humanitarian law standards. |
| "We will also call on them to work with aid agencies to facilitate vital humanitarian access." | "We will also call on them to work with aid agencies to facilitate vital humanitarian access." |
| More than 30,000 people have been killed in the violence in Syria which began last year. | More than 30,000 people have been killed in the violence in Syria which began last year. |
| Defence partnership | Defence partnership |
| An estimated 2.5m people in the country need humanitarian assistance, and the number of refugees in the surrounding region is predicted to almost double to 710,000 by the end of December. | An estimated 2.5m people in the country need humanitarian assistance, and the number of refugees in the surrounding region is predicted to almost double to 710,000 by the end of December. |
| It is thought that Mr Cameron is the first leader of a G20 country to visit Syrian refugees in Jordan and see for himself the conditions they face. | It is thought that Mr Cameron is the first leader of a G20 country to visit Syrian refugees in Jordan and see for himself the conditions they face. |
| On Tuesday Britain and the United Arab Emirates announced a joint defence partnership, following Mr Cameron's two-day visit to the country. | On Tuesday Britain and the United Arab Emirates announced a joint defence partnership, following Mr Cameron's two-day visit to the country. |
| Downing Street said the deal would involve "close collaboration" on the Typhoon jet - although the UAE has not agreed to buy the fighter. | Downing Street said the deal would involve "close collaboration" on the Typhoon jet - although the UAE has not agreed to buy the fighter. |
| Britain is looking to sell Typhoon jets to Dubai and Saudi Arabia, despite allegations of human rights abuses. | Britain is looking to sell Typhoon jets to Dubai and Saudi Arabia, despite allegations of human rights abuses. |
| It is Mr Cameron's second visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as prime minister. | It is Mr Cameron's second visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as prime minister. |